Stair nosing structure



Jan. 14, 1969 c. P. BALZER ET STAIR NOSING STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 23, 1966 IHVEN'IORS. v CLAUDE F. BALZER LIL/1BR H. RE!!!" B5 7 EDIIHRD M. EUR/111A! AT TORNE HS 3,421,274 STAIR NOSING STRUCTURE Claude P. Balzer, Edward M. Corman, and Almer A.

Reifi, Wichita, Kans., assignors to Central Specialties Co., a corporation of Illinois Filed Dec. 23, 1966, Ser. No. 604,313

US. Cl. 52-179 Int. Cl. E04b 11/16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a member to be installed in the stair tread during early stages of construction, said member requiring a minimum of construction effort, a minimum of protection during subsequent construction operation and providing maximum protection to the upper forward edge of the stair tread; to provide anchoring means which may be adjusted as to location during construction; to provide a finished structure flush with the wearing surface of the stair tread; to provide an abrasive non-slip wearing surface; to provide an abrasive wearing surface which is replaceable when damaged or worn during usage; and to provide a stair nosing that is economical to manufacture and easily installed, forming an attractive long lasting structure.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which are set forth by way of illustration and examples certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of the stair nosing structure in place on a concrete stair tread with portions cut away to show the structure.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the stair tread and stair nosing structure taken on line 2-2, FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the stair nosing cover member.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the base member.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a modified form of the stair tread and stair nosing structure in place on a concrete stair tread with portions cut away to show the structure.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 generally designates a stair of concrete, stone, masonry, or other suitable material and having steps 2 with upper or tread surfaces 3. A stair nosing structure 4 is applied to the stair on the upper forward edge portion 5 of each step 2. The form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, includes a base member 6, a cover member 7, and surface cover strip 8 suitably connected together in an assembly on the stair. The nosing structure normally does not extend the full width of the stair being stopped a few inches short of each end, but may extend the full width or part thereof, as desired.

In the structure illustrated, the base member 6 is preferably of aluminum, bronze, or other material of uniform cross-section suitable for manufacture by extrusion. The base member 6 is mounted on the upper forward edge United States Patent 0 "ice portion 5 of the step and has an upper and lower surface 9 and 10, respectively. The base member 6 is preferably secured to the stair by suitable fastening devices such as anchor bolts 11 spaced longitudinally along laterally spaced slots 12 in the base member which form the lower surface 10. On each wall defining slots 12 there are continuous longitudinal ridges or small ribs 13 so shaped and spaced that the ribs 13 are complementary to and engage the threads of the anchor bolts 11. In the upper surface 9 of the illustrated base mmeber 6 there are laterally spaced continuous longitudinal upwardly opening channels 14. The base member 6 has a thickened forward portion 15 adapted to be positioned adjacent the forward face 16 of the step 2, said portion 15 having 2. depending flange or leg 17 which is installed with the outer or forward face 18 thereof flush with the front face 16 of said step 2. The base member 6 has a downwardly opening channel 19 whereby said member has rigidity and strength with lightness in weight. There are ribs or lips 21 and 22 which extend rearwardly from the forward leg 23 of the channel 19 and from a thickened rear portion 24 of the base plate, respectively. At the rear edge of the base plate 6 there is an upstanding leg or flange that extends from the upper face 9 to a suitable height whereby when the base plate 6 is installed in the step 2 the upper edge 26 of the upstanding flange 25 is flush with the surface tread 3. The upstanding flange 25 has a longitudinally continuous forwardly projecting rib 27 for engaging a complementary groove in the cover member 7 as later to be described. In the thickened forward portion 15 of the base member 6 there is a longitudinally continuous slot 28 to receive screws as later described.

The cover member 7 consists of a plate member 29 with upper and lower surfaces 30 and 31, respectively, and a depending flange 32 with an outer and inner faces 33 and 34, respectively. The cover member 7 is suitably secured to the base member 6 in substantially overlying relation thereto. In the structure shown said cover member is secured to the base member 6 by longitudinally spaced fasteners such as self tapping screws 35, the shanks 36 of which extend through countersunk holes 37 and are threaded into the opposed portions of the base member forming the slot 28, and by engagement of the rib 27 in complementary continuous groove 38 in the rear edge of the plate member 29. The inner face 34 of the depending flange 32 of cover member 7 overlies and preferably engages the outer face 18 of the depending flange 17 of the base member 6 with said surfaces flush with the front face 16 of the step 2. Projecting from the lower surface 31 of the plate member 29 are preferably laterally spaced depending continuous longitudinal pairs of ribs 39 which loosely fit into the channels 14 of the base member 6. Each pair of ribs 39 define a downwardly opening slot 40 and on adjacent faces of the ribs of a pair there are continuous longitudinal ridges or small ribs 41 that are complementary to anchor bolt threads to be received therein.

The plate member 29 has a longitudinally extending recessed portion 42 between thicker portions at the forward and rear edges forming upstanding longitudinally continuous ribs 43 and 44 with the forward adjacent faces thereof undercut as at 45 to cooperate with undercut faces or shoulders 45 of ribs 43 and 44 therebetween. There are preferably a plurality of upstanding longitudinally continuous ribs 46 with undercut shoulders 47, said ribs 46 extending upwardly from the bottom 48 of the recessed portion 42 and having upper faces 49 at a level below the upper faces 50 and 51 of the ribs 43 and 44, respectively, and ribs 46 being spaced apart and forming channel 52 therebetween.

The cover strip 8 has outwardly sloping edges 53 and 54 on the front and rear edges respectively that are complementary to the undercut faces or shoulders of ribs 43 and 44 respectively of plate member 29. The cover strip 8 has a plurality of depending longitudinally continuous portions or ribs 55 with undercut shoulders which are complementary to the channels 52 in the recessed portion of the plate member 29. The cover strip 8 may be made separately and inserted endwise into the cover member 7 with the various complementary ribs and channels in a snug fit or the cover strip may be cast or otherwise formed in the recessed portion 42 of said cover member 7.

In the illustrated structure, the elongate cover strip 8 has a non-slip surface 56 that is flush with the upper faces 50 and 51 of the plate member marginal ribs 43 and 44 and has grit or the like embedded therein. The strip 8 preferably has silica carbide or aluminum oxide grit embedded or cast therein and the strip may be aluminum or epoxy resin or other suitable material.

In applying a stair nosing constructed as described, the

base member 6 is supported in a conventional manner relative to the usual forms with the anchor bolts 11 depending from the base member. The material such as concrete is then applied to the forms and is flowed in a conventional manner under the base member 6 surrounding the anchor bolts with the upper surfaces of the respective step smoothed to be flush with the upper surface 26 of the flange 25. The strip 8 is applied or moved into engagement with the undercut shoulders of the cover member whereby the non-skid surface is flush with the upper surface of the cover member, then the assembly of the member 8 of the cover member 7 are moved into overlying relation to the base member, then the groove 38 aligned with the rib 27 and said cover member moved toward the flange to engage the groove and rib and at the same time the cover member is swung downwardly whereby the portions 39 move into the channels 14 and the flange 32 moves into engagement with the forward face 18 of the base member. Screws 35 are then inserted through the opening 37 and threaded into the groove 39 to anchor the cover member to the base plate. In the event the cover member 7 or the non-skid member 8 become worn or unsightly the cover member may be removed and the entire assembly replaced or the non-slip member may be removed from the cover member 7 and replaced with a new member 8 thereby facilitating maintenance of the structure.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. a cover member 60 and a non-slip surface member 61 are applied to and form the nosing of a stair step 62. In the illustrated structure, the cover member 60 is substantially the same as the member 7. Anchor bolts 63 are threaded into engagement with the ridges 41 whereby the anchor bolts depend from said cover member. The non-slip member in the illustrated form is substantially the same as the non-slip cover member 8 and would be applied to the cover member 60 in the same manner.

In using the structure, the cover member 60 and the cover plate are assembled, the anchor bolts threaded in the desired position longitudinally of the structure and then the assembly is suitably supported in the step forms, the concrete flowing around the anchor bolts and into the groove 38 at the rearward edge of the cover member 60. Various parts of the cover member 60 and the non-slip member 61 are indicated by reference numerals that correspond with the reference numerals shown in the structure of FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, to indicate corresponding parts. The depending flange 32 is arranged whereby it engages and overlies the forward face 64 of the step. This structure is utilized where a more permanent nosing is desired.

It is believed obvious the stair nosing structure of our invention provides an improvement in stair nosing structures and provides an answer to the construction problem of reducing damage during construction and provides a replaceable non-skid surface cover strip for a wearing surface. Also, a large variety of anchorage systems and member configuration may be provided for various shaped steps and various slopes of the front face of said steps.

It is to be understood that while we have illustrated and described one form of our invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A stair nosing structure for a stair step having a tread surface and a forward facing comprising,

(a) an elongate relatively rigid plate member adapted to be mounted on a stair step adjacent the forward face thereof,

(b) laterally spaced longitudinally extending depending portions on said plate member with each of said portions having a longitudinally extending channel therein opening downwardly and defined by opposed faces,

(c) said opposed faces having a plurality of inwardly extending ridges,

(d) longitudinally spaced means engaged with said ridges of said downwardly opening channels and d pending from said plate member for projecting into a step to anchor the plate to said step,

(e) a depending flange on said plate member and extending longitudinally of one edge thereof and overlying an upper portion of the forward face of said step,

(if) a plurality of upwardly opening longitudinally extending channels in said plate member,

(g) and a cover member overlying a portion of said plate member, said cover member and plate member having cooperating inter-engaging portions to retain said cover member on said plate member,

(h) said cover member having a non-skid upper surface substantially flush with the tread surface of the step.

2. A stair nosing structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for securing the plate member relative to the stair step includes,

(a) an elongate relatively rigid base member adapted to be mounted on a stair step adjacent the forward edge thereof,

(b) said base member having a forward face substantially flush with the forward faceof the step,

(c) said plate member substantially overlying said base member and engaging said upper face thereof with a depending flange on said plate member overlying the forward face of the base member,

(d) and means securing the plate member to said base member.

3. A stair nosing structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said base member has a depending flange at its forward face interposed between the depending flange of the plate member and the forward face of the base member.

4. A stair nosing structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein the base member has an edge remote from the forward face of said base member and an upstanding flange along said edge with said flange terminating in an upper face flush with the tread surface of the step, and said means securing the plate member to the base member includes cooperating inter-engaging portions on the said flange and the edge of the plate member adjacent thereto.

5. A stair nosing structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein the means securing the plate member to the base member includes screws extending through the depending flange on the plate member and threaded into said base member.

6. A stair nosing structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein the base member has a forwardly opening groove extending longitudinally thereof at the forward portion whereby the depending flange on the plate overlies same, and the means securing the plate member to the base member includes a screw extending through the flange and threaded into said groove.

7. A stair nosing structure as set forth in claim 6 wherein the base member has longitudinally extending upwardly opening laterally spaced channels and the plate member has laterally spaced longitudinally extending depending portions that extend into said channels.

8. A stair nosing structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein the cooperative engaging portions of the fastening means is a longitudinally extending forwardly project- 10 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 1/1957 Germany.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES G. MUELLER, Assistant Examiner. 

